Washing or rinsing machine for textile material.



I. E. PALMER, DECD. T. BL N. T. PALMER. AUMINISTRATORS.

WASHING 0R RINSING MACHINE FOR TEXTILE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, I914.

1,165,896. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Isaac E Pa dimer.

@yMWMVM COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

I. E. PALMER, DECD. T. a N. T. PALMER. ADMINISTRATORS.

WASHING 0R RINSING MACHINE FOR TEXTILE MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILEDJAN-28, 1914.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H C0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

l. E. PALMER. DECD.

T. a N. T. PALMER. ADMINISTRATORS. WASHING OR RINSING MACHINE FORTEXTILE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION Fll-ED JAN. 28,1914- 1,165,896. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 swans-sass? a. 87

M, MITJEQEEKS COLUMBIA FLANOORAFH co., WASHINGTON, D c

ISAAC E. PALMER, 0F MIDDLETOWIT, CONNECTICUT; TOWNSEND PALMER ANDNATI-IALIE T. PALlvIER ADMINISTRATORS 0F DECEASED.

SAID ISAAC PALMER,

WASHING OE RINSING MACHINE FOR TEXTILE MATERIAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Application filed January 28, 1914. Serial No. 815,054.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State ofConnecticut, have invented an Improvement in Washing or Rinsing Machinesfor Textile Material, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to washing or rinsing machines for textilematerial.

In order that the principle of the inventionmay be readily understood, Ihave set forth a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the apparatus, a portionthereof, however, being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1, parts of the apparatus being broken awayand shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of theapparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rider roll being omitted; and Fig.4 is a detail showing a slightly modified form of a portion of theapparatus. 1

In my Patents No. 7 66,464, August 2,1904, No. 816,179,March 27,1906,and No. 985,695, February 28, 1911, I have disclosed apparatus for"washing, rinsing and otherwise treating textile fabrics, of which thepresent invention is an improvement.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the end frames of theapparatus are represented at 1 and 2 in the several figures. Theseframes are of general rectangular form and are connected together bysuitable tie rods 3, 3 and spacing bars 4. Within the lower portion ofthe frames 1 and 2, is positioned a suitable'tank or vat 5 havingtherein fluid circulating and fabric guiding rollers 6, 7. Each of theserollers is provided with a shaft or axle 8 loosely mounted in suitablebearings 9. Fast upon each end of each shaft or axle 8 is a head, spideror casting 10 having peripheral. recesses or sockets wherein are fixedlyset bars or strips 11, 12 preferably of wood, and preferably shapedsubstantially as shown and spaced apart, so that the liquid may enterbetween each pair of bars on the down-turning side of the rollers and bedischarged therefrom between other bars, as for example those on theup-turning side. Inasmuch as the said rollers are driven by the textilematerial, as hereinafter set forth, the liquid is thereby circulatedbetween thebars 11 and 12, and thus the liquid in the vat is kept inconstant agitation. Preferably the bars 11 taper inwardly and the bars12 taper outwardly as shown and the construction is such that inwhichever direction the said rollers 6 and 7 be driven, they act tocirculate the liquid. In other words, the rollers are reversible and actsimilarly upon the liquid whichever be their direction of rotation. Itis therefore possible to change or reverse the course of the materialthrough the apparatus.

In the upper portion of the frames 1 and 2, I provide suitable bearings13, 13 wherein is mounted a master feeding roller 14, the same havingfast on the shaft 15 thereof a pulley 16 driven from any suitable sourceof power. At the ends of the feeding roller 14, there are mounted uponthe framing suitable brackets 17, 18. Upon the brackets 17 18 arepivotally mounted lever arms 19, 20, provided with suitable bearings 21,22, wherein is loosely mounted a shaft 23. Upon said shaft are mountedtwo squeeze rolls 24 and 25. In the present embodiment of the invention,one of said rolls is loose and the other is fast upon said shaft 23, sothat they may rotate at a differential speed with respect to each other,if this be required, by the tension of different portions of material.Preferably the squeeze roll 24 is loose and the squeeze roll 25 is fastupon the shaft 23, though this condition may be reversed. Preferablyeach of said squeeze rolls is faced with rubber, as indicated at 26 in'Fig. 1. In order to hold the said squeeze rolls yieldingly against thefeeding roller 13 I have herein represented the lever arms 19 as havingpivotally connected thereto rods 27 downwardly extending and passingloosely through brackets 2'? upon the framing, said rods beingsurrounded be low said brackets by coil springs 28, the tension whereofmay be adjusted by nuts 28 mounted upon the threaded. lower ends of saidrods. Any other suitable means may, however, be provided yieldingly tohold squeeze rollers 24, 25 against the master feeding roller 14.

It will be observed that the squeeze rolls 1 24 and 25 are located atone side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of the feedingroller 14 and at the other side of said vertical plane is positioned arider roll 29, which may be and preferably is of the entire length ofthe feeding roller 14 whether the latter be cylindrical, or have itsends slightly inclined. The rider roll 29 is supported upon arms 29permitting it to rest by gravity against the feeding roller 14 andpermitting it to yield to inequalities in the material passing throughthe apparatus. It will be observed that the rider roll 29 is at theopposite side of the axis of the feeding roller 14 from the squeezerolls 24 and 25.

In the present embodiment of the invention, I have, for the purposehereinafter set forth, shown the feeding roller 14 provided with flaringends but have represented the rider roll 29 as of the full length of thefeeding roller and having tapered ends permitting the rider roll toconform substantially to the shape of the feeding roller, it being evident that the material between the said two -members will fill anyspaces between their surfaces, so that the rider roll presses againstthe material from end to end of the feeding roller. \Vithin the scope ofmy invention the ends of the feeding roller 14 may be inclined, eitherby making them flaring or tapered, but herein I have represented them asflaring.

At a suitable point between the liquid circulating rollers 6 and 7 andbelow the feeding roller 14, and preferably central with respect to thesides of the apparatus, I have loosely mounted in suitable bearings 30 atensioning and tension reversing roller 31 over and about which thetextile material is adapted to pass as hereinafter more fully set forth.Each of the bearings of the roller 31 is substantially of U shape, asindicated most clearly in Fig. 1, and each is supported by a yoke 32having a threaded spindle or extension 33 passing through a hand nut 34positioned in cross braces 35 of the end frames 1 and 2. By suitableadjustment of one or both of the hand nuts 34, either end I of theroller 31 may be elevated or de pressed, or both ends may be elevated ordepressed, thereby to impart any suitable tension to the textilematerial at any suitable part of its course.

At suitable points upon the frames 1 and 2, I have provided drip ordrain boards 36.

37 38, which may be rendered removable. if

desired, as by being mounted in suitable slides. These boards receivethe liquid draining from rolls above them and direct the same into thevat or tank 5. Upon the spacing bars 4, I loosely mount a series ofspaced, guiding rollers 39, between which the textile is directed ashereinafter more fully set forth.

While I may provide any suitable means for tensioning the textilematerial during its course into and through the vat, I preferablyprovide means to vary the tension thereof both at the in-take and at theouttake points, thus controlling the tension of the fabric throughoutits entire course. This result I have preferably accomplished byproviding each end of the master feeding roller 14 with a flaringportion'39, of any desired lengths, those indicated in Figs. 2 and 3having been found to give excellent results. Said flaring ends areherein shown as of different lengths, to which construction I am not,however, limited. The angularity of its flared portions may be varied asdesired, but it is preferably such that the di ameter of the roller 14at each end 40 is substantially greater than the diameter of thecylindrical portion thereof. From each end 40 inward to substantiallythe points 41, 41, the diameter of the roll decreases as indicated. Thelength of each flaring portion of the roller 14 preferably substantiallyequals respectively the width ofthe squeeze rolls 24, 25, and while thelatter may be c lindrieal and the rubber surfaces thereof may contactthroughout with the flared surfaces 39, I may, if desired,correspondingly and reversely taper the said squeeze rolls 24 andPreferably, the flare of the ends of the feeding roller 14 is slight,and is some what exaggerated in Fig. 2.

The textile material, preferably in the form of yarn or a fabric in ropecondition, is introduced between the squeeze roll 24 and the adjacenttapered end of the feeding roller 14 through. any suitable guide. Forthis purpose, I have, in Figs. 2 and 3, indicated a pot eye 42 having ayokelike supporting member 43, supported with capacity for longitudinalmovement in bearings 44 44, one arm of said member being threaded andreceiving thereon a hand nut 45 whereby the position of the pot eye maybe varied or adjusted. At the opposite end of the feeding roller 14 andadjacent the squeeze roll 25, I provide a similar pot eye 46 having ayokelike member 47 likewise supported in bearings 48, 48, one arm ofsaid member being threaded and receiving thereon a hand nut 49 wherebythe position of this pot eye may also be varied or adjusted. In thismanner, both the in-take end of the fabric and the out-take end thereof,or

either, may be adjusted along the flared portions of the feeding roller14, with the con sequent diminution or increase in speed of the in-takeend and the out-take end thereof. or of either, according to thedirection of adjustment. employ automatic means to'efi'ect suitableadjustment of the said pot-eyes, controlled by the tension upon thefabric at selected portions of its course, but for simplicity ofconstruction, I prefer to employ manually Obviously, I may, if desired,

adjustable means. In this manner, the tension of the teXtile material,both at the intake end and the out-take end may be varied, andconsequently the tension throughout the entire course thereof may bevaried or controlled.

The textile material in any suitable form is introduced through thepot-eye 42 as described and passes between the squeeze-roll and theadjacent end of the feeding roller 1:1. It may then be directly passedonce about the feeding roller 14, but preferably it is passed directlydownward substantially vertically, as indicated in Fig. 1, about theliquid circulating roll 6, is then passed directly and vertically upwardand about the roller 31, thence directly and vertically downward aboutthe liquid circulating roll 7, and thence directly and vertically upwardand again about the feeding roll 14 at a point slightly spaced from itsfirst contact therewith. The material is then passed through thedescribed circuit re peatedly, the various courses of the material beingseparated from each other by the guide rollers 39. Finally, the materialis discharged from the washing machine between the squeeze roll 25 andthe adjacent tapered end of the feeding roller 14-.

It will be observed that the apparatus is provided with a singlepositively driven roller, namely, the feeding roller 14L. whichconstitutes a master roller controlling and determining the passage ofthe material throughout the apparatus. All the other rollers are drivenby draft of the material, and thus no undue tension is imparted to thematerial, and the tension may be very accurately controlled throughoutthe entire course thereof. The roller 31, positioned, as it is, directlybetween and at a considerable elevation above the liquid circulatingrolls 6 and 7, reverses the tensioning of the material that occurs whenthe latter is passed about the liquid circulating rolls 6 and i. Inother words, by passing the material up and over the roller 31., thatportion of the material under treatment which was out side in passingaround the roll 6 becomes inside on the roller 31, and thus the outerand inner parts of the material become at inter 'rals returned to theirnormal relations without undue stretching of one portion with respect tothe other throughout the entire operation. Conversely, the portion ofthe material which was outside in passing around the roller 81 becomesthe inside when it passes about the roll 7, and thus the stretch isagain reversed.

Inasmuch as the roller 31 may be adjusted either or both ends thereof,it becomes a tensioning roller to impart a direct stretching action tothe material as well as to re verse the tension thereof, as previouslystated. Moreover, by positioning the roller 31 at a considerable heightabove the circulating rolls 6 and 7, and preferably outside of the tankor vat5, I obtain a long stretch ing zone between the said roller 31 andthe liquid circulating rolls 6 and 7. Furthermore, by locating the saidtensioning roller 31, substantiallycentrally between the sides of thewashing machine and also substantially as indicated beneath the feedingroll 14, I obtain a balanced condition of the textile material as itpasses through the apparatus.

Because of the vertical course taken by the fabric in passing fromroller to roller, I obtain great compactness of construction, andbecause of the fact that the material is subjected to a vertical andprolonged stretch between the roller 31. and the circulating rolls 6 and7, ll get a. more effective return of the fibers to their normalcondition than would be possible were the said roller 31 located insubstantially close proximity to the liquid circulating rolls 6 and 7.

Preferably I provide a roller immediately overlying and cooperating withthe tensioning roller 81. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have, for this purpose,represented a roller 50 mounted in prolongations of the yolre 32 for theroller 31. Mounted in the upper ends of the yoke arms are bearings 51wherein the cooperating roller 50 is mounted to be rotated by thefabric. The material is passed between the rollers 31 and 50 so that theliquid is thereby expelled partially or wholly therefrom. It will beobserved that the rollers 31 and 50 are adjusted as a unit at one orboth ends. The said roller 50 may be of any desired size and may be ofgreater diameter than the roller 31. Furthermore, it will be observedthat the material after passing about the liquid circulating rolls 6 and7, passes directly over the master or feeding roller 14, and thus issubjected to an effective squeezing action between it and the rider rollso that the washing or rinsing liquid is effectively expelled therefromperiodically, and the material is again inter mi tently subjectedthereto in its passage about the circulating rolls 6 and 7. If desired,and as represented in Fi 4, I may employ the roll 31, mounted asindicated in Fig. 1 or in any other suitable manner, and omittheoverlying roll 50.

Having thus described one illustrativ embodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims:

1. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, and a plurality of rollslocated within the tank feeding roller located above receive thematerial from one of said rolls and to return it to the other in acontinuous circuit about said roller and rolls.

,2. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, and a plurality of looselymounted, liquid circulating rolls located Within the tank and aboutwhich the material passes and vwhich are rotated only by the draft ofthe material, said master feeding roller being relatively positioned toreceive the material from one of said rolls and to return it to theother in a continuous circuit about said roller and rolls.

3. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, a pair of spaced, looselymounted rolls located Within the tank and about each of Which thematerial passes and a loosely mounted adjustable and tension reversingroller located above and between said pair of rolls, said rolls andtensioning roller being rotated only by the draft of the material, saidmaster feeding roller being relatively positioned to receive thematerial from one of said rolls and to return it to the other in acontinuous circuit about said roller and rolls.

4-. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising, in combination, a tank,master feeding roller located above the tank, a pair of spaced, looselymounted, liquid circulating rolls located Within the tank and about eachof which the material passes, a loosely mounted roller located above thetank and between said liquid circulating rolls, and means vertically toadjust either or both ends of said roller, thereby to vary and controlthe tension upon the material.

5. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a. tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means positively to rotatethe same, and a set of loosely mounted rolls Within the tank, said rollseach having spaced, longitudinal bars shaped to circulate the liquidthrough the rolls in either direction of rotation thereof, said masterfeeding roller being relatively positioned to receive the material fromone of said rolls and to return it to the other in a continuous circuitabout said roller and rolls.

6. A Washing or rinsing prising in combination, a

apparatus comtank, a master the tank, means positively to rotate thesame, a set of loosely mounted rolls Within the tank, said rolls eachhaving spaced, longitudinal bars shaped to circulate the liquid throughthe rolls in either direction of rotation thereof,

and a loosely mounted adjustable reversing roller located above andbetween said liquid circulating rolls, said master-feeding roller beingrelatively positioned to receive the material from one of said rolls andto return it to the other in a continuous circuit about said roller androlls.

7. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means positively to rotatethe same, a pair of loosely mounted, liquid circulating rolls mountedWithin the tank adjacent opposite sidesthereof, and a loosely mountedreversing roller located between and above said liquid circulating rollsand substantially mid-distance between said sides of the tank, saidliquid circulating rolls and said rover"- ing roller being rotated onlyby draft of the material thereabout, said master feeding roller beingrelatively positioned to receive the material from one of said rolls andto return it to the other in a continuous circuit about said roller androlls.

8. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank and having materialreceiving portions of different diameter, means positively to rotatesaid roller, a rider roll peripherally engaging said master roller aboveand at one side of the aXis of the latter, and one or more squeeze rollsperipherally contacting with said master roller above and at the otherside of the axis thereof.

9. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comarising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means positively to rotatesaid roller, a rider roll peripherally engaging said master roller aboveand at one side of the axis of the latter, and in-take and out-takesqueeze rolls peripherally contacting with said master roll above and atthe other side of the thereof and at opposite ends of said roller.

10. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means positively to rotatesaid roller, a rider roll peripherally engaging said master roller aboveand at one side of the axis of the latter, and in-take and out-takesqueeze rolls peripherally contacting with said master roll above and atthe other side of the axis thereof and at opposite ends of said roller,and a freely rotating shaft Whereon said squeeze rolls are mounted, oneof said rolls being fast and the other loose thereon.

11. A Washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means positively to rotatethe same, a pair of loosely mounted, liquid circulating rolls mountedWithin the tank adjacent opposite sides thereof, and a loosely mountedreversing roller located between and above said liquid circulating rollsand substantially middistance between said sides of the tank, saidliquid circulating rolls and said rever ing roller being rotated only bydraft of the material thereabout, and a series of spaced, guiding rollsbetween saidliquid circulating rolls and said stretch reversing rollerand mounted transversely thereto.

12. A washing or rinsing apparatus com prising in combination a feedingroller having a flared end and a squeeze roll peripherally contactingwith said flared end.

18. A washing or rinsing apparatus conr prising in combination a feedingroller having an end portion of its peripheral surface at an inclinationto the main portion of said. surface, and asqueeze roll peripherallycontacting with said inclined end.

14. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination a feedingroller hav ing both ends inclined and intake and out take squeeze rollsperipherally contacting with said inclined ends.

15. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination a feedingroller having both ends flared, and in-take and outtake squeeze rollsperipherally contacting with said flared ends.

16. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising a substantiallycylindrical feeding roller having at least one end provided with aninclined portion.

17. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination asubstantially cylindrical feeding roller having at least one endprovided with an inclined portion, a squeeze roll or rolls cooperatingwith said inclined portion or portions, and a guide or guides tointroduce the material between said squeeze roll or rolls and theinclined portion or portions of said feeding roller.

18. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination asubstantially cylindrical feeding roller having an inclined end,

a squeeze roll peripherally contacting with said inclined end, and aguide to introduce material between said inclined end and said squeezeroll, said guide being adjustable along said inclined end.

. 19. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, asubstantially cylindrical feeding roller having a flared end, a squeezeroll contacting with said flared end, and a guide adjustable along saidflared portion, longitudinally of the feeding roller.

20. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means to rotate the same,a plurality of loosely mounted rolls within the tank, and a pair ofcooperating rolls locatec. above and between the tank rolls, with meansfor adjusting said cooperating rolls as a unit, said master feedingroller being relatively positioned to receive the material from one ofsaid rolls and to return it to another thereof in a continuous circuitabout said roller and rolls.

21. A washing or rinsing apparatus comprising in combination, a tank, amaster feeding roller located above the tank, means positively to rotatethe same, a pair of loosely mounted liquid circulating rolls within thetank, and a pair of cooperating loosely mounted tension reversingrollers located above and between said liquid circulating rolls, saidmaster feeding roller being relatively positioned to receive thematerial from one of said rolls and to return it to another thereof in acontinuous circuit about said roller and rolls.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

/Vitnesses:

TI-Ios. W. HALLonAN, CHARLES M. Sauna.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

